Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Do you ever wish you could say Thank You to the little old lady who's stuff you're taking home? Every time I enter an estate sale, it doesn't escape me that these things are the remnants of someones life. And where are they, as we rummage through their home, loading up our arms with their memories? Maybe He has passed away and She is now in a nursing home. Or maybe they both decided to "sell it all" and head to Florida.

Either way, sometimes I just wish I could say "Don't worry, I'll take care of and enjoy your things because I feel lucky to have found them".

I saw these chairs in an Estate Sale ad a few weeks ago. I wanted them sooo bad, but there were just way too many reasons why I had no business going to the sale. For one thing, there was a snowstorm that night. And I knew I would have to get to the sale by 2:00 or 3:00 AM for a good number.

The sale was packed with vintage and antique things, so I knew that the dealers would be there overnight. So I didn't go. And I didn't go on day #2 either. Then on day #3 I thought I'd see if anything was left. Of course the chairs were GONE. And the lady managing the sale said that #2 in line bought them. Oh well.

I was able to find some other cute things.

There must have been lots of good x-mas stuff because I was able to scrape this stuff together out of the boxes that had already been gone through. I'm happy with the leftovers!

I really like the snowman stenciled one and the ornament box itself!

There were tons of cards and Valentines. The woman of the house was a teacher, and her name was Fidelis Davitt. But the children called her Fiddy! My favorite cards are the two tiny handmade ones. One is made of beautiful old wallpaper. And the other (with the big red heart) just says: To Fiddy, From Me. Isn't that the sweetest?

I could have gone nuts with the valentines.

I love the one where they're in their swimsuits!

I grabbed a couple x-mas cards. The pink one is German!

And a few pretty Easter cards.

I'm missing some pics but I also got a cute old ladder that I'll make into a plant stand, and a wonderful white blanket with pink roses on it.

OK, so THEN I went out to dog sit for my parents while they were in Costa Rica for a week. The town I grew up in is loaded with little shops and antique stores. So I walk into one of the shops that I worked at when I was a teenager, and there sat THOSE DARN CHAIRS! AHHHHH!

I wasn't strong enough to walk away this time. So long story short, I bought my (Fiddy's) estate sale chairs at an antique store for a ridiculous price. But at least I got to stay at home in my cozy bed and the dealer did all the work, during a MN snowstorm no less! Thank you dealer!

Dear Fiddy,

Thank you, for passing on your wonderful white chairs, the valentine cards from your days as a teacher, and your pretty Christmas ornaments! I will treasure them!

Friday, April 25, 2014

OK we'll just skip to the stuff. I was able to cross off the picnic basket tin on my "WANT" list. It was marked "as is" at an antique store. But of course I don't mind that it's not perfect. The snowflake piece of Pyrex was at the Goodwill for $3.99 so even though I swear I'm not collecting Pyrex anymore (lol) I just couldn't leave it there. And a cute aqua strainer that I've been using a lot, only .99 at GW.

This old candy tin has been at one of my favorite antique stores for a long time. So I finally gave in and bought it, thinking it would take center stage in my Easter display this year. But I didn't get to decorate because I wasn't feeling well. Next year!

One day there was a huge stack of vintage Easter cut outs at the little thrift store. They were marked just .50 each, so I bought them all and I have duplicates of some of them. They'll go in a Market Monday someday soon. Bummer I couldn't do it before Easter.

Aren't they sweet?

Love this bunny couple!

That same day there was a stack of these cute trays! I know I already have one packed away, so I grabbed these for Market Monday too.

I had to grab this unopened box of PAAS egg dye from 1985. This is exactly the kind we used when I was little and those characters on the box bring back memories! And I can never ever pass up a vintage copy of "The Golden Egg Book". I sent this one to a sweet friend.

That rabbit candy tin reminded me of something that I found awhile ago but didn't show you. This wallet was at the thrift store and I think I paid $2 for it. I love the lantern she's holding, and the white rabbit at the bottom! Such a funky piece.

If you look up Dumpling Dynasty, you'll see cute things! They make adorable pillows with deer and other creatures too!

I found a vintage "Farm Lotto" game with such sweet little cards.

Now and then I get lucky and find vintage x-mas at Goodwill. These Holt Howard candle holders for $1.99 each plus the tin and a bag full of sugar bells and foil leaves were a great surprise!

This is the second time I've found bags of x-mas stuff like this at GW. The last time it was old bottle brush trees with mercury glass beads. Both times the things still had dealer tags attached to them. So I guess antique dealers sometimes donate their leftovers when they quit selling.

So that's that! I hope you guys have been finding some fun things too. Or maybe you've been having fun gardening??? I'm really excited to start buying flowers and to get the yard looking pretty!

Oh! I did go to one estate sale a couple weeks ago. I'll be back soon with pics of what I found.